Improving Briere blames himself for concussion

Flyers center Danny Briere, out indefinitely with a concussion, participated in the team’s Tuesday morning skate, and afterward reported no symptoms.

That was an improvement from Monday when he returned to practice for the first time since being injured Jan. 21 and experienced headaches.

“I’m feeling better and better every day. That’s the thing with concussions,” Briere said. “You just have to hope for the best. You just never know from one day to the next what it’s going to bring. I’m trying to ramp up the workload every day. Sunday I did a workout off the ice. Yesterday, I went on the ice for about half a practice and today we pushed it a little bit more. Now we just have to hope the next day will be good and I’m still symptom free and you can push it to the next level.”

Monday wasn’t a great day for Briere, who was concussed in a Jan. 21 game at New Jersey. He was back on the ice for the Flyers’ first practice at the All-Star break, but experienced headaches all day.

“The good thing is it didn’t get worse,” said Briere, who has 13 goals and 30 points in 43 games this season. “It was just a light headache and I woke up today and I was feeling good. That’s the positive.”

Briere was cleared to practice because he passed a baseline concussion test.

“That’s the good thing,” he said. “That’s the first step, I guess. Now it’s waiting for all of the symptoms to clear out and I’ll be closer to playing.”

Briere blames himself for taking a bunch of headshots playing in New Jersey on Jan. 21, three of the five delivered by Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov.

“Yeah, the thing that was frustrating was I’ve survived for 15 years in this league avoiding big hits like I took that day,” he said. “I was disappointed in myself that I didn’t see ‘em coming. I know [Volchenkov’s] good at it, but usually that’s part of my game. I’m able to protect myself and I never saw him coming. I looked back the tape and there were a few hits beforehand … I get bumped, I get hit the head. I don’t know if it was culmination of all those hits and then the final blow at the end, but I know the last one that left me losing my balance and left me out there a little bit.”

Briere says he’s had previous concussions, but nothing as severe as this one.

“I’ve had a few, but it’s the first one that I had to deal with symptoms. In the past, I’ve been fortunate that I never had to deal with symptoms, starting the next day. This is something new.” We’ve had lots of experience around here. Guys have been through it, especially this year. We know how to treat ‘em, and our medical staff … I’m in good hands with them. They’ve dealt with many of them lately.”

The Flyers currently have three players out indefinitely with concussions – James van Riemsdyk, Chris Pronger and Briere. Pronger was lost for the season in December and his career is in jeopardy. Injured on Jan. 12, JVR is back practicing but hasn’t updated reporters on his condition.

Seeing what happened to Pronger, Briere realizes concussion symptoms can linger. He says he’s not worried that his will.

“Honestly, I’m not,” Briere said. “I’m very confident this is going to take a little bit. I’m confident that I will get through that. To be honest, I haven’t thought this could get worse going on. I try to stay positive. Obviously, there’s always a chance, but I don’t think about it. I’m trying to focus on the next day and what I’m going to do. I’m looking forward to pushing it to the next level, to get back in the lineup.”

Still, Briere has no idea when he’ll be ready to play again.

“I’m asking the trainers that,” the two-time All-Star said. “I’m saying, ‘I want to know when.’ But they don’t know. They see it all the time: You’re good for 2-3 days, then boom, you have a setback. They said just to be patient, take it a day at a time. I want to know when, but it’s tough at this point to pinpoint one date.”

Still, Briere is encouraged that he’s been on the ice two days in a row?

“Exactly,” he said. “I was able to get through this workout [Tuesday]. It wasn’t anything contact, but to push it hard and still feel good right now, I’m excited about that.”

About this Blog

On the ice and in the locker room with the Philadelphia Flyers

About the Author

Dave Isaac joined the Courier-Post in April 2012 after covering the Flyers for the past three seasons. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
Follow Dave on Twitter @davegisaac.